Bethel just recorded its coldest November in 80 years
The deep cold is causing and exacerbating problems around the Southwest Alaska hub. It's the kind of cold that freezes barges in their tracks and makes pipes burst open.
Oil prices plunge amid omicron variant concerns
After months of increases and a short plateau, oil prices in Alaska and worldwide have plunged in the last week. A barrel of Alaska North Slope crude was about $71 on Monday, $11 less than the week of Thanksgiving.
Inside the growing alliance between anti-vaccine activists and pro-Trump Republicans
But as America heads into midterm elections next year, the political right and the anti-vaccine movement are drawing ever-closer together. It's an alliance that promises to give both sides more power, but the cost is potentially thousands of American lives.
Anchorage Assembly to vote on ending indoor mask ordinance during Tuesday meeting
The rate of COVID-19 infections is decreasing in Anchorage, and the Assembly says it will decide whether to end the city's mask mandate at its meeting on Tuesday.
Chair of Nuclear Regulatory Commission touts ‘passive safety’ of small reactors, like the type planned for Eielson
The Air Force hopes to have a micro-reactor at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks by the end of 2027. The NRC must first license one.
State to extend contract with out-of-state health workers brought up to help with pandemic strain
The contract was initially for 90 days, and has been extended to Jan. 20.
New report could guide how Alaska spends $1.5B in federal funding for broadband
Providing every Alaskan with a high-speed internet connection is a challenge, considering the state’s far-flung geography and extreme weather. But the new federal infrastructure law has $1.5 billion for broadband in Alaska. And that could help the state reach its goal.
Alaska health officials urge COVID vaccinations as omicron continues to spread across nation
Alaska has no confirmed cases of the variant, but officials want residents to be prepared.
Alaska seeks private operators to fill gaps in winter ferry schedule
The state of Alaska is looking to the private sector to offer ferry service between Juneau and four Southeast villages facing months-long gaps this winter from January to March.
Akiak’s broadband rollout marred by outages
Akiak made history last month as the first community in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to install broadband internet in every home. But the rollout has not been smooth, and many in the village still don’t have high-speed internet.
One man is dead and another missing after their skiff sinks near Whittier
Troopers say 28-year-old Stefan Weingarth of Anchorage and 28-year-old Luki Akelkok III of Dillingham were coming back from a hunting trip on Esther Island when they encountered bad weather.
Louisiana jury convicts former Wrangell physician of rape
A former Wrangell doctor and former chief of staff of the Wrangell Medical Center has been found guilty of raping a girl in Louisiana more than a decade ago. He will be sentenced Dec. 13 and faces life in prison.
Three volcanoes are erupting across the Aleutian Chain. But scientists aren’t worried.
Three of Alaska's 54 historically-active volcanoes are at elevated alert levels — geologists’ way to say the trio is erupting, but there’s no immediate cause for concern.
Haines plans memorial playground for kindergarten teacher killed in last year’s landslide
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the extreme weather event in Haines that led to a deadly landslide and storm damage to dozens of homes and businesses. A playground project at the Haines school is one of several memorial projects planned to commemorate the disaster and honor those affected.
Congress approves a short-term funding bill to avoid a government shutdown
A day before the federal government is scheduled to run out of money, Congress on Thursday approved a short-term spending bill that will keep federal agencies running through Feb. 18, 2022.
The Mat-Su Borough is suing over Alaska’s new redistricting maps
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough says the recently drawn legislative boundaries dilutes the votes of borough residents.
This Anchorage man took in one Afghan who needed help. Now he’s trying to rescue 17.
Bill Barnes has devoted heart, soul and savings to bring Romal Safi's family to Alaska.
A year after Haines’ deadly landslide, signs of recovery but still work to do
It's been one year since a huge landslide tore through Beach Road in Haines, destroying houses and killing two people, whose bodies were never found.
Olympian Lydia Jacoby partners with swimwear company following NCAA rule change
Seward swimmer Lydia Jacoby just signed with swimwear company Arena. It's the high school senior’s first deal with a brand since winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
U.S. House votes to avert shutdown, but quick Senate OK in doubt
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a bill Thursday that funds the government through Feb. 18 and avoids a short-term shutdown after midnight Friday, but quick Senate approval was in doubt because of a fight over President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates.